Sensitization and Training Workshop on the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) for fisheries stakeholders in Namibia

Advancing decent work in the fisheries sector in Namibia through understanding the roles and responsibilities of competent authorities and relevant stakeholders of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. C188).

Press release | 15 August 2022
(ILO News, Windhoek) – The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No.188) entered into force in Namibia in 2019, cementing the government’s commitment to addressing key issues such as minimum age for work on a fishing vessel, medical standards, work agreements, occupational safety and health, and social security through ongoing labour law reforms.

The ILO-European Union “Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better” (SSCBFB) Project organised a sensitization and training workshop on C188 for all stakeholders involved in the Namibian fisheries sector to raise awareness on the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders in the fisheries industry in the implementation of the Convention.

Namibia is well-positioned within international and regional trade and investment frameworks and initiatives to further develop its fisheries and seafood supply chain in line with its development plans. The European Union remains the largest market for Namibian fisheries products. In the first quarter of 2022, fisheries products accounted for the highest foreign earnings at N$3.1 billion (NSA, Statistical Bulletin – First Quarter of 2022).
“We are 8 years away from the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development therefore, sustainable fisheries development is important and indispensable to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing decent work deficits, particularly as they touch on labour issues and human rights violations is all more urgent. The COVID-19 pandemic led to supply chain disruption while the safety and well-being of fishers were at risk. The Decent Work Country Programme for Namibia includes employment creation, social dialogue and industrial relations, as well as social justice at work. These priorities are aligned with the main goals of the SSCBFB project.”
Hopolang Phororo, ILO Country Director for Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In opening remarks Gosia Lachut, EU Deputy Head of Delegation to Namibia said:
“Recently, in February 2022, the European Commission presented a communication on Decent Work Worldwide that reaffirms the EU's commitment to champion decent work both at home and around the world. “Let’s remember that besides the fundamental fishing resources, people are the key resource in the fishing industry and any other. The decent work concept aims at improving the working conditions and therefore the overall sustainability of relationship between employers and employees, as workers are an equally fundamental resource in this industry.”

This workshop assisted competent authorities; the representative organizations of employers and workers and registered organizations of fishing vessel owners and fishers; and others that are concerned with improving conditions of fishers, in particular inspectors, to understand better the requirements relating to living and working conditions on board fishing vessels according to international labour standards.

In total 31 participants representing about 21 organisations participated in the sensitization component of the workshop, and the majority came from the fishing companies licensed to operate in the Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Group photo of sensitization workshop participants and facilitators
The training component of the workshop equipped the inspectors with skills and knowledge on how to conduct flag state inspections on board fishing vessels. Basic requirements, sources of information and examples of deficiencies on issues such as conditions of services, accommodation and medical care, among others, were fully explored during the training. Inspectors demonstrated the skills gained by conducting a mock inspection at the Walvis Bay harbour on the last day of training (see picture below).

Participants conducting a mock inspection at the Walvis Bay Harbour
About 22 participants mainly composed of labour and occupational safety and health (OSH) inspectors from the Ministry of Labour Industrial Relations and Employment Creation (MLIREC), fisheries inspectors from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), and maritime surveyors from the Ministry of Works and Transport attended the training.

 
Group photo of all participants
Recommendations from the training workshop highlighted the need of establishing a coordination mechanism for competent authorities as required by Article 7 of C188. The Ministry of Works and Transport as per the Merchant Shipping Act, are responsible for the inspection of medical examinations, crew lists, repatriation procedures, accommodation, food, medical and work-related injury reports or disease. They communicate their findings to the MLIREC who are responsible for reporting to the ILO. The Ministry of Labour is responsible for the inspection of fisheries work agreements, occupational safety and health and issues of minimum wage. However, once a coordination mechanism is established, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Works and Transport will be able to carry out their mandates jointly in ensuring compliance as required by the Labour Act and the Merchant Shipping Act, respectively. There is a need to involve the Ministry of Fisheries (MFMR) to ensure that there is compliance with C188 in the granting of fishing licenses to fish in EEZ of Namibia.

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